Families at Risk: D.C. Hunger Solutions Urges House to Vote ‘No’ on Budget Reconciliation Bill

Media Contact:

Colleen Barton
cbarton@frac.org
703-203-7843

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2025 – As the District of Columbia prepares to honor Independence Day, D.C. Hunger Solutions is urging the U.S. House of Representatives to vote “No” on a harmful budget bill that narrowly passed in the Senate (51–50). The bill would slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and threaten the food security of thousands of D.C. residents.  

“These proposed cuts are not just numbers in a budget — they represent meals being taken off the tables of people across our community,” said LaMonika Jones, director of D.C. Hunger Solutions. “D.C. families, especially caregivers, seniors, and working parents, will be left to shoulder the burden of a policy that prioritizes politics over people.” 

The Senate bill: 

• Slashes billions from SNAP, imposes rigid time limits, and restricts eligibility. 
• Requires local jurisdictions to fund a share of SNAP benefits starting in 2030 — an unprecedented move that could strain already tight budgets. Based on fiscal year (FY) 2024 data, the District of Columbia could qualify for a one-time delay of SNAP cost-sharing implementation until FY 2030 due to its high error rate, if similar levels persist in FY 2025 or FY 2026. 
• Strips benefits from asylees, refugees, and other lawfully present immigrants seeking to rebuild their lives. 

These changes will severely impact the District’s ability to combat food insecurity. With more than 140,000 D.C. residents currently relying on SNAP, the financial strain could force cuts to other critical services or drive up food bank demand beyond capacity. 

Additionally, child nutrition programs such as school meals and Summer EBT are in jeopardy. Loss of automatic school meal eligibility tied to SNAP could disproportionately hurt students attending D.C. schools citywide. 

“As grocery prices climb and economic pressures mount, this is not the moment to take food off our neighbors’ tables,” said Jones. “We urge the House to reject this legislation and instead protect and strengthen the programs that uplift D.C. families and ensure dignity and opportunity.” 

To learn more about how this bill would impact D.C. and what you can do to help, visit www.dchunger.org. 

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D.C. Hunger Solutions is an initiative of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). We work to create a hunger-free community and improve the nutrition, health, economic security, and well-being of low-income District residents.